Desperately Seeking Epic(85)

I hated having to be vulnerable in front of him. I was afraid he’d use it as a weapon to belittle me more. But I had no choice.

“I’m pregnant.”

He blinked a few times, his mouth pressing into a hard, flat line. “Does Paul know?”

I shook my head no.

“Have you tried contacting him?”

“I’ve emailed him. I left a message with Mateo stating it was an urgent matter that I spoke with him. But I haven’t heard back.”

“Are you going to keep it?” he asked gingerly.

I placed my hand on my belly, my mouth quirking up slightly. “Definitely.”

When I lifted my gaze to meet his again, he let out a long sigh. Moving his gaze to the ceiling he let out a loud groan. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he mumbled to himself. Lowering his head, he said, “I’ll stay if you lift the prank ban,” he bartered.

“No.” There was no way in hell I’d ever agree to that.

“You have to give somewhere, Clara,” he argued.

I rolled my eyes. “No,” I affirmed.

He shrugged and began to slip out of his seat. “Well, good luck to you,” he chirped. I gritted my teeth. He knew he had me.

“Fine,” I seethed. “Once a month.”

“Five a month,” he replied.

“Two.”

“Three,” he offered firmly. “And that’s my final offer.”

I chuckled a little even though he was frustrating as hell. “Fine. Three.”

He slid out of his chair and rounded the desk, extending his hand. “Truce.”

I took it and we shook. “Truce.”

It’s funny how fast things changed between us. I confided in him as to why Dennis left me half of the business, and wished I’d done it sooner. Marcus seemed so . . . at peace when he discovered the truth. Slowly, we built trust between us and became friends. The night I signed my divorce papers from Kurt, he took me out for an all you can eat buffet and ice cream. He knew how to celebrate with a pregnant lady. He actually became my best friend. To this day, Marcus is my best friend. He was there the day Neena was born; the first to hold her after me. He taught her how to ride a bike. He was her friend, her playmate. He was there the day she was diagnosed. He’s been a rock for us. And I will forever be grateful for him.



Ashley smiles as she closes her notebook.

“Well, you know everything now, I guess.”

“Marcus sounds like a pretty amazing dude.”

“He is,” I agree.

“I think that’s it then,” she sighs. “We have a lot of footage to go through.”

“You’ll make it tasteful?” I question again, in a way that implies she damn well better make it tasteful.

“Yes, yes,” she chuckles. “I promise.”

I stand and stretch.

“We’ll try to get this ready in the next few days. So Neena can see it.”

“I appreciate that.” I give a small wave and head toward the door. One quick once-over of the office and I’m out of here.

“Clara,” she says my name, causing me to turn. “I know Paul was the adventurer . . . the fearless risk-taker. I know they joked about how you never jumped, but if you think about it . . . you did.”

I smirk, unsure of what she means.

“You left your home and moved to a different state, taking on a job you knew nothing about. You bought a house on your own; fixed it mostly on your own. You had a baby as a single woman. It may not be jumping out of planes, but it sounds like one hell of an adventure to me.” She gives an appreciative smirk. “You’re pretty badass, Clara.”

I grin. “I guess that’s one way to look at it. Thanks, Ashley.”

With another wave, I’m out the door.





We’re waiting on Ashley and her crew to arrive. Ashley called yesterday and said the tape was ready. Clara is upstairs taking a shower and I’m lying beside Neena on her bed, thumb wrestling. She’s so weak, she can barely play, but she still tries. I let her win anyway.

“Dad.”

“Yeah, kid?” I answer.

“Do you believe in heaven?”

Her question stuns me for a moment. Lacing my fingers together over my chest, I let out a long breath. “I want to believe in heaven,” I admit. “What about you, kid?”

She stares up at the ceiling. “I think . . . this can’t be it. There has to be more.” Turning her head, she looks at me. “I don’t want to not exist anymore.”

Damn. Her statement gets to me. This kid knows how to get my heart twisted. “I don’t want you to not exist anymore either, Neena.”

“Maybe it’s like a dream,” she muses. “Maybe if I just imagine it, it will be so.”

I smile sadly. Taking her tiny, frail hand in mine, I lace our fingers together. Her skin is cool against mine. “Will you tell me what you see?”

She smiles. “Okay. Close your eyes.”

I do as she says and she shimmies closer, resting her head against my shoulder. “I see a beach with sand that’s almost white. It feels soft under my feet. The water is blue, but you can see to bottom of the ocean it’s so clear. I want there to be color. Maybe the sky will have that glow just after sunset, ya know, when it’s orange and red.”